Total credit hour required for program completion – 60 semester credit hours.
There are a number of achievement benchmarks that candidates must meet successfully in order to advance. Below, you'll find descriptions of key assessment points.
First Year Review: Held at the end of the first year of coursework, this evaluation provides early feedback to the doctoral student regarding their performance in the program, including areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Early Inquiry Assessment: This requirement provides feedback to the doctoral student about their developing research skills. The student will complete a project in the Conceptualizing and Designing Research course, scheduled in the first semester of their second year of coursework.
Qualifying Examination and Oral Defense: The purpose of this evaluation is to determine how the student has integrated the program's major theoretical concepts into the practice arena. It will be conducted at the end of the third year of coursework. A written examination will be developed by program faculty, and an oral defense of the examination is also required.
A student who fails a qualifying examination more than once will not be permitted to continue work toward the doctorate, and admission to the doctoral program will be terminated. Successful completion of the qualifying exam and oral defense will admit the student to doctoral candidacy.
Dissertation and Dissertation Defense: The purpose of this requirement is to demonstrate the doctoral candidate's ability to conduct theoretically grounded, high-quality research. A doctoral candidate who has formally begun this phase will register for the Dissertation Seminar. Once a student has completed the Dissertation Seminar, the student must continue to register in course number 51-785 or 51-795 until completion of the dissertation.